Matrix setting mechanism



1111 .4, 1931. H. A. w. WOOD 1,816,945

MATRIX SETTING MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 24. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1931. H. A. w. wooD 1,816,945

MATRIX SETTING MECHANISM Griginal Filed Jan. 24, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w fi u J 11! Giff WM 4 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 HENRY A. wrsn ,woon, on NEW YORK,

MACHINERY CORPORATION, (3F NEW N, Y., ASSIGNOR TO WOOD NEWSPAPER YGBK, NFY A CORPGRE. T101? 03? VIRGINIA MATRIX SETTING IMECHANISM Application filed January 24, 1927, Serial No. 163,183.

This invention relates to the matrix clip mechanism of a stereotype plate casting box. The principal objects of the invention are to provide means for loading the matrix into the clips so as to avoid the present awkward method of introducing the matrixinto the mold and then securing it into the clips therein to provide means for supporting and guiding the clips so that they can be raised '10 outof the casting box and the matrix se- Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which 3 Fig. 1 is a plan of a casting box constructed in accordance with this invention and with the back and cylinder separated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front View of the casting box showing in dotted lines the clips partiallyraised out of the box;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines-theclip'pulled up to its extreme posi- -3 tion and ready to be-laid over from a vertical to a horizontal position; and

, Fig. 4 is a horizontalcross section of a modified form of this'invention; The loading of the matrix in the side clips of a casting box is an awkward operation as ordinarily performed. It is necessary for the operatorto stand directly over the casting'box and reach down into the narrow space between the back and cylinder where 4 itis hardly possible to see whether the matrix is in proper position or not. The. operator has to be guidedlargely by feeling.

In showing this invention 1- have illustrated the usual cylinder 10 and back 11 and 45 shown the back as provided with the conven tional matrix holding clips 12. This clip as usual is equipped with a matrix bar 13 adapted to beslid in a vertical direction by a toggle 14; operated by 'a' handle 15 attached 9-1 to the clip. Whenso operated the matrix bar Renewed. August 7, 1930.

13 moves toward and from the clip for pinching or releasing the edge of the matrix. The whole clip assembled is pivoted on a vertical shaft 16 in the case of a vertical mold. This shaft is mounted in brackets which are usually attached to the side of the back in a rigid manner. On this shaft is a coil spring 17 arranged to cause the clip to turn normally to the position shown in Fig. 1. lVhen the casting box 11 approaches the cylinder 10 for closing the mold, two lugs 18 on the opposite sides of the cylinder at the top engage with 'the two toes 19 on the upper ends of the two clips on the opposite sides of the box. This causes the latter to swing, as the box closes, against the resistance of the springs 17, to force the matrix into proper position.

Vv'hen the casting box or back recedes from the cylinder, the springs 17 resume their normal position and pull the matrix away from the inner face of the back and strip it from the surface of the printing plate. The toes 19 are mounted on levers which are operated by handles 20 on the opposite sides of the box'when it is desired to move these parts by hand. These parts are all well known as so far described.

Iii-accordance with this invention, I substitute'for the clip brackets rigid y attached to the casting box a pairof opposite T-bars 22. .These are fastened to the sides of the casting box by several screws and constitute guides for the whole clip mechanis i. The latter comprises slides 21 each having a vertical T-slot fitting the T-bars to guide them in a straight vertical direction. The two slides can be pulled upwardly by a connecting rod 28 which connects them and extends across the casting box. Each T-bar consists of two parts,'the lower portion of which is attached rigidly to the casting box while,

the upper portion 22a is hinged at the point 24 to the top of the rigid bracket 30.

In operation the cross bar 23 is grasped and pulled up as shown in Figs. 2 and it reaches the dotted line position shown in F ig. 3 the structure comprising the two clips is entirely Out of the mold and can be turned over about the horizontal pivot 2 -linto a Then trough 26 lying horizontally on a concave bracket 27 fixed rigidly to the back of the casting box. In this way the matrix holding device as a whole is laid out fiat in this trough and the matrix can be removed, replaced, adjusted or manipulated if necessary to get it into the proper position.

Then it is swung back into the position shown in Fig. 3, in dotted lines and lowered backdown into the. mold where it is in its final position and is accurately located therein. On account of the trough 26 being curved to the same shape and size as the mold, the

matrix will be accurately located if it is held back against the surface thereof when it is clamped by the clips. This constitutes an accurate way of holding the matrix in the clips and provides means readily accessible ant expos d to the light of the room for holding the matrix while it is being loaded. The; matrix is necessarily guided into :the right position and thetime ointhe operator materially conserved as he is never likely to have to reach down into the back or to readjust the matrix after he has once put it in the clips in the trough 26.

In the form shown in Fig. 4: the casting box is provided with a. rigid member 27 shaped to the same curvature as the box and; extending throughout its entire length. At"

each edge it is equipped with a T-slot 28 i for guiding it on vertical guides of the same shape carried on the outside of the box." On,

each edge also it is provided with vertical hinge rods 29 on which the matrix bars 12 are hinged in the usual manner. Y The guides on the top of the casting box are the same as in the form shown in the other fi ures and the hinge 24 is the same. The operation is the same but the matrix isshaped against the member 27, laid out 1n horizontal position,

which then serves the same purpose as thetrough 26. Incidentally itis a part of: the

casting box when in the positionshown. 'Ihe same general results are secured as in the form illustrated in the first three figures.

Although; I have illustrated and described" only two forms of the invention I am aware of the fact that'other modifications can be made therein by anyperson skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I doclaim is 1. The combinationwith astereotype plate casting mold, of means for holding the edges of th matrix in place'in the mold, saidmeans being movable wlth the matrix to a positlon outside and clear of the mold cavity, whereby the matrix may be removed and a new matrix secured" in position and the matrix holding.

. .means with the new matrix secured thereto casting mold, of means for holding the opposite edges of the matrix in place in the mold, said means being movable longitudinally with thematrix to a position at the outer end of the mold.

4. In a vertical stereotype -plate' casting mold, the combination with means for holdingthe oppositelongitudinal edges of the matrix in position in the mold, and means for guiding said holding ineans'so that it can be drawn vertically out otthe mold to ex pose the entire matrix and its'hold'ing means at the top of the mold. Q

5. In a mold for casting stereotype print ing plates, the combination with a curved back, of =gui des extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the back, and means connected with landslidable'along said guides for clamping and holding the opposite straight edges of the curved matrix, whereby the matrix and its clamping means can be moved straight out of the-mold longitudinally and exposed at the end of the mold. i

6. In a stereotype printing plate mold, the

eombinationwith a back-having a pair of guides along its oppositeedges, of a pair of slides'in said guides, means extending across the mold for securing the slides together-so that they can be moved simultaneously, and

means carriedlby the slides for clamping and hold ng the opposite edges-of the matrix. 7. In'acurved stereotype printing'pl'ate mold, the combinationwitha concave back 8. The combination withia stereotype plate casting mold,:of clips for holding'the edges of the matrix in place in the mold,"said clips being movable'with the matrix to a position outside the mold, and meanson the other half of the mold for engaging "the matrix clips and forcing'the matrix'into'the back when the mold closes. 3 1

9. In a mold for casting stereotype printing plates, the combination witha curved back, of guides extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the back, slides movable along the guides, matrix clips concombination with means for holding the op- I posite longitudinal edges of the matrix in position inthe mold and means for guiding said holding means so that it can be drawn out of the mold to expose the entire matrix and its holding means, of a bracket on the back of the mold, a trough carried by the bracket in horizontal position of a size to receive and shape the matrix, and means 7 matrix clips carried by said slides, means for whereby the matrix holding means can be lifted out of the mold and turned over into said trough for inspection. I

11. In a stereotype plate casting mold, the

combination with a vertical back, of means for holding the opposite longitudinal edges of a matrix therein and means for turning the matrix into a substantially horizontal p-osi tion for charging and discharging the matrix,

while the back remains in vertical position.

12. In a stereotype plate casting mold, the combination with a stationary vertical back, of a slide movable upwardly 1n the back to a position outside the back, clip mechanism carried by the slide, a trough fixed to the back and extending horizontally and pivotal means for mounting the slide, whereby it can be I turned from a vertical positionv after it is lifted out of the back into a horizontal position in the trough.

13. In a stereotype plate casting mold, the combination of'a back and a trough fixed to the back, of a pair of slides guided by the back and movable along the guides into a position entirely outside the back, and means for pivotally connecting the slides with the back on such an axis that the slides can be swung into said trough and matrix clips carried by the slide for holding the matrix until it is moved into the trough.

14. In a stereotype vplate casting mold, the

combination with a back and slides guided in the back to move into the back and out of it, matrix clips carried by said slides, and means for manipulating the matrix clips to release the matrix held thereby from the back inwardly, whereby when the. slides are moved out of theback they will take the'matrix with it. 1 V

, 15. In a stereotype plate casting mold, the combination with a back and slides guided in the back to move into the back and out of it,

manipulating the matrix clips to release the matrix held thereby from the back inwardly whereby when the slides are moved out of the back they will take the matrix with it, a trough fixed to the back for receiving the matrix and means whereby the slides can be moved into a position at the edges of said trough to bring the matrix into the trough for inspection and replacement.

16. In a stereotype plate casting mold, the combination with the concave back and a pair of matrix clips extending along the opposite edges thereof, of a rigid member adapted to be located in the back fitting the concavity thereof, against the inner surface of which the matrix is held by said clips, and means along the back for guiding said rigid member into and out of the back to expose the matrix outside and locate the matrix in cast ing position inside. i

17 In a stereotype plate casting mold, the combination with a concave back and a pair of slidable matrix clips extending along the opposite edges thereof, of a member adapted to be located in the back fitting the concavity thereof and slidable with the matrix clips out of the back to expose the matrix.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD. 

